The lustrous sheen of pure silk is unrivaled by any other fabric. Woven from the cocoons of silk worms, India’s pure silk saris are largely classified into Mulberry, Tusser and Eri. For centuries, weavers have been spinning yards of silk into beautiful saris, famous internationally. Different regions of the country produce different varieties of the classic silk sari. From the Kanchipuram Sari of Karnataka to Telengana’s Narayanpet silks, each saree has a story to tell, and reflects the various local cultural influences.

Naturally, these saris have grown to be the mirrors of a tradition over hundreds of years old. The bold floral designs that graced them were gradually replaced by subtler, symbolic motifs in zari or resham during the Mughal era in India, while the British rule saw them transform into more elegant versions of themselves. The silk sari is integral to every bride’s trousseau, that she may wear it over and over again in times of celebration, before passing it on to her daughter on her own wedding day.